Jenkintown Council Workshop Meeting Notes

Here’s what we learned from the September 18, 2024 Council workshop:

During public comment period, a resident asked if it was true that Jenkintown police service was being reduced to one man patrols. Council’s answer: “This isn’t a question and answer period.” Chief Scott’s answer:  “That’s an operational issue and can’t be discussed in a public meeting but I’d be happy to talk one on one.’ It’s a yes or no question, Chief. No need for a discussion.

Rome may be burning, deep in debt, and soon without its own police force, but the EAC and Council felt the need to spend a full hour discussing a ban on plastic bags. At least three times, an EAC member stated that such a ban from a town Jenkintown’s size will have little to no actual impact, but they still thought the inconvenience it will bring “is a good idea.” In other words, it’s a virtue signal.

David Ballard has asked Council to consider applying to the Strategic Management Planning Program, intended to assist municipalities “with a strategic management study, that will look at financing and operations”. It provides a consultant who will spend up to two years explaining to George Locke & Co. how to do a better job managing the Borough. The state pays for half, the rest comes from us. Mr. Locke’s salary is $136,646 plus benefits.

The Borough will be receiving $139,500 to purchase a new leaf collection trailer. That amount would buy 200 gas-powered units at Home Depot for residents. Or they could just mow the leaves with their own lawn mowers and save the Borough a lot of time and expense of going hat-in-hand to Harrisburg yet again. In 2019, the Borough paid Abington $1944 dollars for leaf disposal. However, Abington hiked their rates ten-fold in 2020. Since then, the township has so far received $80,636 to mulch and give away our leaves.